Here’s how the six players that left Rovers last summer have fared since their Ewood Park departures.

 

Jayson Leutwiler (Free agent)

The ‘keeper finds himself as a free agent for the second successive summer after leaving the Championship side without making an appearance. The 32-year-old joined in February on a short-term deal after leaving Fleetwood Town in January, a surprise departure having started 18 matches for the Cod Army between October and the New Year.

 

Andrew Fisher (MK Dons)

Started the Carabao Cup tie against Doncaster last August as Thomas Kaminski quarantined, but the arrival of three new ‘keeper’s saw Rovers allow the 23-year-old to move on. MK Dons, where he finished last season on loan, secured his signature on a permanent deal, and established himself as No.1 in Russell Martin’s enterprising side. Has since signed a long-term deal with the club and played 39 times in all last season, keeping 11 clean sheets. Will hope to keep pushing forward with the League One club next season.

 

Sam Hart (Southend United)

After starting the season as a free agent, Hart secured a short-term contract with Southend United where he had previously enjoyed a loan spell, one of four during his time with Rovers. He appeared in 20 fixtures for the Shrimpers, but couldn’t help them avoid relegation to the National League. Manager Phil Brown took over in the closing weeks of the season and has offered the former Liverpool left back, now 24, a new deal, with Hart weighing up his options.

 

Richie Smallwood (Hull City)

Signed a three-year deal with the Tigers shortly after his departure from Rovers and was soon named captain by Grant McCann to help lead their charge back to the Championship. They achieved that at the first attempt, taking the League One title in the process. Smallwood backed up successes with Rovers and Rotherham to win a third promotion to the Championship. The 30-year-old played in 27 league matches, but did miss two months of the season with injury. Talk in East Anglia has suggested Ipswich are keen on the tough-tackling midfielder whose reputation as a third-tier specialist seems to be growing.

 

Dominic Samuel (Free agent)

The striker scored twice on his Gillingham debut, but just once more in the league, adding three more in the FA Cup to end an injury-hit season with six in 26 appearances. No length of contract was given when the 27-year-old signed for Gillingham last summer, but was released after just a year at the Priestfield Stadium so is now searching for a new club for the second successive year.

 

Danny Graham (retired)

His final Rovers appearance was his 600th in professional football, but within a year of leaving Ewood Park, he had called time on his career. Like Samuel, Graham scored on his Sunderland debut, a second spell with the Wearside club, but that strike in an 8-1 Papa John’s Trophy win over Aston Villa proved to be his last. His final appearance came against Hull City on January 9 before hanging up his boots later that month after just 17 games, and only three starts for Sunderland. The 35-year-old is now focused on his business interest, including clothing brand Fugati which launched in 2020.